in a statement on Wednesday. “The measure was taken this Wednesday after the disclosure that athletes from main division clubs of Brazilian soccer were suspected of collaborating with gangs that would act through sports betting,” the statement read. This comes a day after the state of Goias accused 16 people of manipulating the results of 13 soccer matches in Brazil’s Serie A and Serie B, as well as the state championship in 2022 and 2023.
CNN has reached out to the Brazilian Football Confederation for comment. The Colorado Rapids, a Major League Soccer club in the United States, confirmed that one of their players is connected to the Brazilian match-fixing scandal. “We are aware of the reports regarding a Colorado Rapids player in connection with unlawful sports gambling,” the club said without naming the player. “We take matters of this nature seriously and seek at all times to protect the integrity of the game.